10 years ago, Sesshomaru thought he lost Rin but he has held hope that she is still alive. 10 years ago, Kiku washed ashore of a small village but has never felt like she belonged. What happens when they have chance meeting in the same place they parted?

Sesshomaru started to
descend when his castle came into view. Before him was a valley and
in the center his castle; and on the steps leading up to it was a
panting Jaken. He looked utterly exhausted, so much so that he didn't
notice his approaching Lord. "Jaken." He spoke in a stern voice.

"My Lord!" Jaken
jumped up and bowed at Sesshomaru's feet. When he looked up he saw
the woman that his Lord was setting down. "R..Ri..Rin." He
blurted out as Sesshomaru looked down at him.

"Rin?" She spoke
the name slowly as if it registered in her memory. She paused for a
second but smiled and bent down to look Jaken in the eyes. "You
must be mistaken. My name is Kiku." She lightly patted him on the
head.

Sesshomaru glared down
at the imp as he started to walk past him. He still had his arm
wrapped around Kiku's waist to help support her. They left Jaken
standing here staring at the two.

'Lord Sesshomaru is correct. That woman is certainly Rin.'
He wanted to follow them but his legs wouldn't move. He had
finished all that his Lord had wanted but the sight of Rin had
completely shocked him. Despite Sesshomaru telling him that it was
Rin he had held his doubts but upon seeing her there was no question
left.

Kiku walked along side
Lord Sesshomaru. He was supporting most of her weight which was a
very good thing. The castle was bigger then she had ever imagined and
it was so ornately decorated. He stopped her in front of a large pair
of doors. Two servants rushed up and bowed before him.

"This shall be your
room." He nodded his head as the two servants went to open the
doors. Before her eyes was the most beautiful room she had ever seen.
The room was huge and painted in a deep shade of red. There was a
large bed on the other side of the room; it was covered in a white
fabric she had seen the expensive merchants selling when she was a
child. They called it silk. There was furniture she had never seen
before and when he opened them she could see more kimonos then she
had in her life. They were in every color she had ever imagined with
patterns more ornate then any she had ever owned.

"Is it to your
liking?" He looked down at her.

"To my liking?"
Her voice was weak. "My Lord, it is…" She couldn't even
finish the sentence. A giggle escaped her as she ran towards the bed
to feel the fabric. "It is unlike anything I have ever seen." She
smiled and felt happier then she had in her whole life.

"I am glad it is to
your liking. If you will excuse me, I have other matters to attend
to." He turned to face the door as an elder woman walked in. She
had the pointed ears of a youkai. "This is Shion, she shall be your
ladies maid. My vassal, Jaken, has gone to fetch Sumiko for you."
He glanced back briefly. "I wish to have you accompany me for
dinner this evening. When the bell rings, then it is time for you to
join me. You have time to prepare, should you wish it." Without
even waiting for her reply, Sesshomaru walked out and his foot steps
could be heard down the corridor.

"Is he always like
that?" Kiku turned to face Shion.

"I am afraid so, my
Lady." She bowed lightly.

"There is no need
for formalities like that. Please address me as Kiku and there is no
need to bow. I shall treat you with respect." Kiku grinned at the
confused woman.

"Thank you, my
Lady…I mean, Kiku." Shion allowed a small smile to spread across
her cheeks. "You must forgive me but out of respect for Lord
Sesshomaru, I shall still call you, my Lady. Now, we should get you
prepared for your dinner with the Lord. Does my lady know what she
would like to wear?"

"I understand your
desire to respect your Lord, it is just strange to be treated with
such honor. I was just a peasant until today. As for my apparel this
evening, I have no concept of what to wear. I have never seen such
intricate kimonos, let alone know how to wear one, or even put it on
for that matter." She laughed as she looked inside the wardrobe.

"Well it was become
a well known fact that the Lord prefers simple colors and has a soft
spot for chrysanthemums." Shion brushed Kiku's hair back.
"Perhaps that is why my Lord has taken in the human named such."

"You really think
that is why he has taken me in?" Kiku turned to face the older
youkai.

"I can't say for
sure, my Lady, and it is not my place to say such things. Only my
Lord knows." Shion looked into Kiku's eyes. They were filled with
everything that a younger Sesshomaru was without, compassion, wonder,
energy, and joy. She remembered the time when he came home and
suddenly his eyes were filled with those same emotions. "It could
even be her that is compelling Lord Sesshomaru." She added emphasis
to the word her.

"Her?" Kiku
suddenly questioned. "Ever since meeting Lord Sesshomaru, I have
heard of her, or she but never a name. Who is she?"

"I have spoken too
much, my Lady that is a story for another day." Shion stood up and
started to undress Kiku. "Come now; let us get you all ready for
your dinner with our Lord."

Kiku picked out a
white kimono with red dressings and a red obi. Shion put her hair up
intricately and stepped back to look at the human before her. Kiku
had naturally pale skin and red lips so combined with the colors of
the kimono and with how beautiful she looked; one would have sworn
she was human royalty.

"There all ready."
Shion smiled.

"Not quite." Kiku
giggled slightly as she ran to her balcony and picked a small red
chrysanthemum. She tucked it behind her ear. "Now I am."

"Indeed you are my
Lady." Shion stared at the angel before her eyes as the bell for
supper began to ring. "Not a moment too soon. Away with you, let us
not keep our Lord waiting." With that Kiku was rushed away by other
servants down the corridor and soon was out of sight. "What could
Lord Sesshomaru be thinking? Is it Rin? That girl who still holds
power over his heart, could she be still swaying him? And why this
girl?" She leaned against the wall and let out a sigh before
turning around to clean up Kiku's room from their preparations.

There you guys go.
Chapter 10 up finally!! Woot! I am hoping to have more time to write
soon because my first semester of college is done!! Yay! Ok you know
the drill. Please review and let me know what you guys thought.

Lady Elanya

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